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On July 16, Physical Plant began spearheading a College Row sidewalk replacement project. After removing the existing concrete sidewalk, that spans from Church Street to Wyllys Avenue, contractors installed a 13-foot-wide asphalt path that will accommodate large groups of people, such as campus tours. The existing path was 8-feet-wide.

“This sidewalk has a large amount of foot traffic all year round,” said Wesleyan grounds manager Rob Borman. “The concrete sidewalks around campus also have shown considerable decay, primarily due to salt use in winter.”

The wider sidewalk also will allow grounds maintenance staff to remove snow faster and easier by using a larger machine.

Asphalt, which is 100 percent recyclable, also can be milled and resurfaced easily. The black color will help melt snow and ice faster.

“The new surface will be much safer during the winter season,” Borman added.

Phase two of the project will include the installation of seating areas adjacent to the sidewalk near North College.

Physical Plant-Facilities recently enhanced the area in front of Weshop.

This summer, crews around campus are hard at work on several major maintenance and capital projects designed to support Wesleyan’s ultimate goal of creating a more interconnected and sustainable campus.

Physical Plant-Facilities seeks to foster a synergistic residential and academic experience by creating visual and functional transparency between indoor and outdoor spaces, preserving and enhancing opportunities for informal learning, improving formal learning spaces, showcasing learning and living in action, and integrating learning opportunities with Middletown.

Landscaping projects include replacing the sidewalk in front of College Row, from Wyllys Avenue to Church Street, with a 15-foot-wide asphalt path featuring four seating vignettes; landscape improvements at Andrus Field; landscape renovation, including an outdoor learning space at the Center for the Humanities; Cross Street sidewalk replacement between Fountain Street and Pine Street; and sidewalk replacement throughout the Foss Hill complex, including steam line replacement on High Street; hot and chilled water piping replacement at the Center for the Arts; main electrical equipment replacement at Olin Memorial Library; and transformer replacement at Judd Hall.

Other projects include renovations at Pi Café; waterproofing and new flooring at the Bacon Field House; new academic and office space for the Center for Pedagogical Innovations at 116 Mount Vernon Street; laboratory renovations at Hall-Atwater, Exley Science Center, and Judd Hall; and the replacement of the penthouse roof at Exley Science Center.

All projects are scheduled for completion before the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

Several major maintenance and capital projects are taking place on the Wesleyan campus this summer.

This summer, construction crews are painting the Memorial Chapel’s exterior wood sills and applying foam insulation in the attics to reduce humidity infiltration.

Dozens of major maintenance projects are underway this summer at Wesleyan.

According to Roseann Sillasen, project manager for Physical Plant-Facilities, the renovations will affect several buildings on campus.

The Davison Health Center is receiving a window restoration and solarium window replacement. The project includes restoration of existing wood sashes with new insulated glass to match current historic profiles.

The Memorial Chapel and 92 Theater received a foam insulation application to above the attics to reduce humidity infiltration and provide improved HVAC control and consistency. Contractors are also painting the chapel’s exterior wood sills and clock tower section this summer.

Installation of the steam and condensate return pipe began on May 27.

Physical Plant-Facilities also is overseeing the installation of steam and condensate return piping from Olin Library to the Freeman Athletic Center. The route runs along an underground tunnel between Olin and Clark Hall to the intersection of Pine and Church Streets, then through the backyards between Pine and Fountain Avenue, across Fountain, across Warren Street and due south along Warren into Freeman. The run is about 2,000 feet long. In addition, campus is receiving a major electrical loop replacement, ongoing through Aug. 30.

The student organization WILD Wes is working on a permaculture project at the Butterfield Courtyard near Summerfields.

The student organization WILD Wes is working on a permaculture project at the Butterfield Courtyard near Summerfields. Students have installed terraced mulched beds and planted several herbs, flowers and shrubs in the beds. WILD Wes students are also working on weeding and updating the West Co. Courtyard garden. Pavers are planned to be placed in the mulched walkways.

This summer, Physical Plant-Facilities is overseeing the installation of steam and condensate return piping from Olin Library to the Freeman Athletic Center. The route runs along an underground tunnel between Olin and Clark Hall to the intersection of Pine and Church Streets, then through the backyards between Pine and Fountain Avenue, across Fountain, across Warren Street and due south along Warren into Freeman. The run is about 2,000 feet long.

Physical Plant bid the project in late 2013 and purchased the pipe in early 2014. The pipe is manufactured by Perma-Pipe Systems and is welded and insulated at each joint with a closure jacket of insulation. Installation of the steam and condensate return pipe began on May 27. Installation from Olin to the corner of Pine and Church will be complete by June 12 with work in Church Street estimated to begin on June 16.

As part of Wesleyan’s major maintenance projects this summer, Physical Plant- Facilities staff and local contractors inspected the manholes and made repairs to an underground piping system. On Aug. 7, crews discovered a failed drain line, which may be the cause of leaking vapors, visible during the colder months.

While students are away, there’s no time for play, if you’re on the Physical Plant – Facilities staff.

“The day students move out of their campus residences, we get to work,” said Roseann Sillasen, associate director and project manager for Physical Plant – Facilities. “We get as many projects done as possible while students and faculty are away for the summer.”

Summer projects began early with replacement of the 22-year-old Andersen track at the Freeman Athletic Center. The project included an installation of a new synthetic turf field for inclement-weather games and practice field, taking pressure off the grass practice fields and Jackson Field, the principal playing field for men’s and women’s soccer as well as men’s lacrosse. The track is expected to be completed on Sept. 3.

Contractors fill areas near The Center for the Arts Rehearsal Hall and Crowell Concert Hall after replacing several sections of 40-year-old underground steamline piping.

On May 28 work began on a mechanical system replacement inside the Center for the Arts Rehearsal Hall. This project included the consolidation of mechanical rooms, installation of a heat pump and exterior dry cooler, perimeter landscaping, tree relocation within the CFA, a new acoustic entry door to Rehearsal Hall 013 and new acoustic doors in the corridor that separates Rehearsal Hall from Crowell Concert Hall. Also on May 28, work began on the Davison Art Center’s Alsop House. The veranda received new wood decking, framing and painting. The veranda’s metal pan roof is in the process of being replaced.

On June 3, crews began renovations on the Religion Department and the Center for the Humanities. Both buildings received wall repairs, fresh paint, lights and carpet. The Center for the Americas received a porch replacement, window restoration, roof repairs and replacement of the ADA-approved entrance with composite decking.

Crews used a mechanical tree spade to transplant a 20-year-old maple tree on Aug. 6.

During the months of August and September, contractors are replacing the underground steamlines between Fayerweather and Foss 10. This process requires significant excavation, and unfortunately, two trees stood in the path of destruction.

On Aug. 6, Hall hired a tree specialist to remove the two trees from Foss Hill and relocate them to the Center for the Arts courtyard. The contractor used a mechanical tree spade to pierce the earth and extract the trees and their root-balls, which measure about 6-feet-wide and 5-feet-deep.

A copper beech, rescued from construction on Foss Hill, found a new home near the World Music Hall.

Crews transplanted a 20-year-old maple to a grassy area between the Davison Health Center and Davison Art Center. A 15-to-20 year-old copper beech found a new home near World Music Hall.

“This beech is going to turn bright red in the fall. It’s going to be very pretty,” Hall said. “You’d never know it wasn’t growing here for years.”

Another rescued birch, acquired from an earlier job near the CFA’s Rehearsal Hall, also was transplanted near the Music Studios and South Studio.

Planting aftercare includes a daily water dousing.

The new underground piping will exit the south east corner of Foss 10 and travel to the northwest corner of the west section of parking lot E (adjoining Fayerweather). From there, it will travel around the perimeter of the parking lot and terminate at an existing manhole just behind Fayerweather.

The parking lot will remain open during construction and travel along Wyllys Avenue and Mt. Vernon Street will not be restricted. A construction fence will separate the work area from the parking lot.

During the first three weeks of construction, the sidewalks on the south end of Foss 10 (from Van Vleck Observatory to Wyllys) will be closed. Work will begin at Foss 10 and progress to Fayerweather.

The former AME Zion Church on Cross Street is being remodeled this summer. The Dance Department will occupy the space in January 2014.

In January 2014, the Dance Department will move from its space in the Center for the Arts to a new studio and office space on Cross Street. This will allow Dance Department faculty and students to be closer to the Bessie Schönberg dance studio on Pine Street.

Construction at 160 Cross Street commenced July 9 with asbestos abatement and demolition of the interior finishes and walls. Interior framing begins Aug. 5. According to Alan Rubacha, director of Physical Plant, construction will be completed this fall.

Dance Department faculty and students are currently using two studios and other shared spaces. Some dance faculty are sharing offices due to the lack of space.

The new venue will house offices for all dance faculty. It will also create an opportunity for more dance performances since the studio will be equipped for lighting instruments, making it a suitable production space. With this multipurpose new space, the dance department will be more able to accommodate present and future student enrollment in dance classes, teaching and research of new dance technologies, and performances of student work, faculty directed concerts, and visiting artists and scholars.

The building, which neighbors Neon Deli and the Freeman Athletic Center, was constructed in 1978 by the AME Zion Church. The congregation has since moved to a new location on West Street. Wesleyan’s Cross Street Archeology Laboratory occupied the building’s basement for several years. On July 8, the lab relocated to a space inside the Physical Plant building on Long Lane.

The Theater Department will occupy the former CFA Dance Department space.

Wesleyan's Physical Plant-Facilities staff has been busy this summer with several construction projects. The Public Affairs Center's restoration includes exterior carpentry repairs, gutter repairs, minor roofing repairs and chimney repointing. Painters also removed lead paint from the roof balustrade. The perimeter balustrade, soffits and metal railings around the building were prepped and painted. Inside, several classrooms received refinished tables, new seating and millwork. Next summer, the PAC's patio and stairs will be repaired.

At left, Scott Martin, superintendent of PAC Group LLC in North Haven, Conn. discusses floor plans with Alan Rubacha, construction services consultant, inside the former Davenport Campus Center on March 16.The building is undergoing an interior remodeling project and will re-open as The Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life for the Fall 2009 semester.

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Lots of great WESeminars today! Here's your chance to revisit the classroom this weekend and experience firsthand the academic excellence that is the essence of Wesleyan. Check out the schedule #WesReunion#Wes2019: fal.cn/ARoc